10 Errors to avoid when getting married in Italy

To create the perfect wedding day you need to know how to avoid any faux pas!

A WEDDING IN ITALY can be the stuff of dreams, and very often is. As an experienced wedding planner organising nuptials for English speaking couples in the land of romance and sunshine for a number of years, I’ve seen it all. Below are ten of my top tips to make sure the dream becomes a reality and not a nightmare.

1 THE SKY – Never overlook the fact that you might need a plan B if the day doesn’t turn out to be quite as sunny as hoped, basing your choice of venue on an outdoor only plan. Make sure you visualise the whole event from start to finish both in good weather and bad, and make sure there is enough space inside for all the guests if necessary.

Plan well for summer drops of rain and you hardly notice if it happens (photo by David Bastianoni Studio)

If you need to hire a gazebo, make sure you get a quote early on and price this into your budget to save you a surprise cost the week before the big day.

On the day itself don’t spend precious moments staring wistfully at the clouds, trying to calculate their flight path and their intentions, you’ll get wrinkles on your forehead. Have a glass of prosecco instead and sing ‘Que Sera Sera’ out loud.

2 THE HARD PART – Never leave the paperwork to the last minute and wait for your Embassy or Consulate in Italy to point out that your name is written differently on your birth certificate and your passport, risking the ceremony.

Know what you need and when

Do check with the local authorities in Italy and where you are a resident which documents are required, well in advance. Don’t try and charm the officials in Italy into ‘letting you off this time’ by citing your Italian ancestry and sharing some lasagna baking tips. It won’t work here. These guys aren’t paid to smile, and we don’t want you arrested.

3 THE RAYS – Never assume that getting married at 2pm outside in the middle of August will be as comfortable as you think. Do think about providing shade (drapes or sun umbrellas), fans and water, especially to save grandma from melting!

Shade is as important as shelter

Temperatures in Italy in July and August can be above 40 degrees and many Italians either stay inside until 6pm or escape to the sea! Consider a late afternoon ceremony if it fits with your timings for dinner and dancing. Mix an overdose of Mediterranean sun and a continuous flow of Chianti Classico and you might find a few more unwanted interjections during the speeches, alongside some nicely blushed shoulders the morning after.

4 THE LOOK – Never try and achieve that golden tan in the days leading up to the wedding with some intense poolside sessions, fresh off the plane from colder climes. Do prepare your skin for hot weather and get protected. Girls, if you are tempted to do a last minute top up, I’m afraid it’s topless all the way to avoid any tan lines interfering with the dress!

5 THE GUESTS – Never try and get involved in organising all the flights and accommodation for your guests by becoming a booking agent. You may still get calls on the morning of the wedding from auntie Sue asking for a room with an ironing board! Do try and offer guests concise information to help them book their own travel and hotel arrangements.

6 THE FOOD, OH THE FOOD! – Never get too stressed about trying to please everyone’s taste in how they have their meat cooked. If opting to serve beef, Italians tend to prepare it medium or medium rare.

Taste the food first and get it right

Talk to the caterers if you’d like the meat to be cooked for longer and if there are any guests you know will prefer their meat cooked differently, or consider providing those guests with an alternative option. Tasting the menu in advance is a way to iron out any confusion. Don’t however ask the chef more than once to serve the steak more well done. It’s a sensitive subject out here!

7 THE SNAIL MAIL – Never send important shipments for the wedding out to Italy within a month of the wedding date for risk of it turning up when you are well into your honeymoon. Do use reputable couriers and allow plenty of time.

8 THE BARMEN – Never underestimate the spirit measures. Italians pour drinks like they drive, without adhering to limits or boundaries! A gin & tonic out here may be three times as strong as back at home! It may make for some interesting dance moves but you may like to think of a bar list in advance.

9 THE BIG MOMENT – Never spend three hours with the hair stylist, only to hop in an open top vintage car to travel half an hour to the ceremony venue, along cypress lined, dusty lanes, and arrive in the style of Bridget Jones on her mini-break.

Leave the convertible for after the ceremony

Leave the funky car for after the ceremony, to scoot off with your new spouse, when everyone can see you…and where you have the chance to touch up any make up or hair dos before the next arrival.

Arrive in style…and styled (photo by Andrea Corsi)

10 THE JOURNEY HOME – Never assume there are mysterious taxi ranks behind every olive grove just waiting to smoothly escort groups of merry guests back to their hotels, which they no longer remember the name of! Do plan some kind of transport in advance with a reputable transport company who either know the property or who will go and get to know it before the big day. Don’t be surprised if some guests don’t make it back until the next day, having preferred to take their chances amongst the olive trees, under a starry sky and happily slurring a farewell ‘ciao ciao’ as the last guest coach leaves, clutching a bottle of limoncello in one hand and a glass of grappa in the other!

As a final tip – need I say it? Don’t feel that you have to go it alone. A professional wedding planner can save you time, can save you money and can save your bacon!